STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Eleven women belonged to Eritrea, one was a Turk and the other was an Egyptian

Libyan forces have released 13 female hostages from the Islamic State's hold in Sirte, a pro-government forces spokesman said.

The women were freed after the government forces recaptured a part of Sirte held by the IS on Saturday. Eleven women were Eritrean, one was a Turk and the other was Egyptian.

Rida Issa, a spokesman for the forces, told Reuters, "The forces have completely recaptured the 600 block area in Sirte from gangs of Daesh (Islamic State), and now the Ghiza Bahriya area is the last pocket of resistance"

Sirte is IS' major stronghold outside of Syria and Iraq. The city was claimed by the militant group more than a year ago profiting from Libya's political instability.

After six months of fighting, backed by US air strikes, the pro-government forces managed to take back most of the city. According to Reuters, some militants fled the city before it was besieged.